Campaign to end early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

Pledge your support to call for an end to these
harmful practices and help girls to reach their full
potential.

Take a stand against female genital mutilation (FGM) and
child and forced marriage today - sign our
pledge now to show your support in ending these harmful practices
forever. Your voices will be heard at the #GirlSummit.

Child, early and forced marriage occurs in every part of
the world, affecting millions of girls every year. 1 in 3 girls in developing
countries is married by the age of 18, and 1 in 9 by the age of 15. Some are as
young as 8.

Girls who marry young have babies while still children,
putting them at risk of death or suffering for the rest of their lives. They
are more likely to be poor and stay poor. In the UK, hundreds of girls risk
being forced into marriage, violating their human rights. Forced marriage
victims can suffer physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual
abuse.

FGM removes a girl’s right to have control
over her own body. Traditionally considered essential for marriage and
inclusion in the community, it is an extreme and violent way in which girls and
women are controlled and disempowered. It can result in a lifetime of pain,
psychological problems and difficulty in childbirth. Current trends suggest at
least 30 million girls will be at risk over the next decade - with more than
20,000 at risk in the UK every year.

The Girl Summit on
Tuesday 22 July will rally a global movement to end child, early and forced
marriage and FGM for all girls within a generation.

Doing this will help preserve girls’ childhoods,
promote their education, reduce their exposure to violence and abuse, and allow
them to fulfil their potential in life. Everyone has a part to play in
achieving rights for girls and women around the world.